This Day With God | Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife

Joseph was bought by one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard in Egypt named Potiphar. In Genesis 39, we are told that the Lord was with Joseph so that there was success in everything he was in charge of (v. 2). Potiphar paid attention to his work habits and soon entrusted everything he had in Joseph’s care including his house and the fields he harvested.

There was great prosperity under Joseph’s care as he faithfully followed God but following God does not guarantee a trouble-free life. People around us who are not following the path God had set before us can interfere. In this passage, it was the wife of Potiphar who gets everyone off track. Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and asked Joseph to come to bed with her.

Joseph resisted the temptation and explained to Potiphar’s wife that he wanted to continue to be entrusted by his master. He continued to resist day by day but Potiphar’s wife continued to ask. Then one day, she arranged for the house to be empty. As Joseph came in to attend to the duties, she caught him by his cloak and tried to get him in bed with her (v. 11). Joseph ran out of the house but his cloak was in her hand.

She then used Joseph’s cloak in a devious plan against Joseph. As Potiphar returned, she told her husband that Joseph had wanted to go to bed with her but she screamed for help and Joseph ran out without his cloak. Potiphar was extremely angry and put Joseph in prison.

But even in prison, the kindness of God granted to Joseph gave him favor in the eyes of the prison warden (v. 21). After a while, the warden put Joseph in charge of those held in prison and all the work done there. God was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did (v. 23).

The Lord was with Joseph so that there was success in everything he was in charge of. How can we also have success in everything we do?

Daily go to God and trust in His timing

Study His Word, reflect on how to apply it, pray, and receive the power

Use our talents to build Kingdom wealth

We can have success if we let God walk with us, grow us, and change us

Know God, glorify Him, magnify Him, and live for Him

The favor of God can take difficulties or adversities and turn them around for good